Job prospects Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Assistant in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "early childhood educator (ECE) assistant" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202) in British Columbia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Employment opportunities remain strong as the province continues to invest in additional childcare spaces. Demand will increase as the province continues to implement its $10-a-day childcare program.

In 2023, the provincial and federal governments announced a joint investment of $260 million to create new licensed childcare spaces in high-need areas in the province.

Here are some key facts about Early childhood educators and assistants in British Columbia:

• Approximately 25,250 people work in this occupation.
• Early childhood educators and assistants mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 90%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 71% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 28% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 39% of early childhood educators and assistants work all year, while 61% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 37 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 15% of early childhood educators and assistants are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: less than 5% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: more than 95% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 18% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 10% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 42% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 20% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 7% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "early childhood educator (ECE) assistant" Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202) or across Canada.

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